Herbal medicine
is by far the oldest and most widely used branch of the common Chinese medicine tree for health and healing purposes. Over three hundred herbs are regularly used today, but there are herbs that have a history of use that goes back at least 2,000 years. During this time, a huge amount of experience has been accumulated, which has helped to improve all clinical studies. Added to the list of beneficial herbal medicines over the centuries, these herbs and other products, which have been added to the list of beneficial herbal medicines for centuries, can greatly enhance the effectiveness of modern drug treatments, reduce their side effects, and sometimes replace them entirely, according to Chinese clinical research.
In China, there were two most common herbal treatments.
It was necessary to make a decoction of tea (strong tea, it was necessary to heat it over low heat for about an hour or more), as well as to mold large tablets smeared with honey. Both of these forms of herbal use were not widely used in Western countries. It was believed that making tea took too long; it smelled bad and tasted terrible. Honey tablets (boluses) were sticky and almost impossible to chew. All this could not justify the use of herbs. Thus, modern forms of drugs have been developed with the aim of their maximum convenience in use, as well as with the possibility of being used to treat any disease.
Two popular modern forms of preparations have replaced the ancient Chinese teas and pills. They are now available as extract powders (or granules) and smooth, easy-to-swallow tablets or capsules. Extracts are obtained from a large batch of tea with subsequent removal of water. All this is then used to obtain a powder or tiny granules. Tablets are washed down with a small amount of water or dissolved in hot water to make a tea. Tablets and capsules contain either herbal powder or dried extracts or a combination of the two. Although convenient, a significant amount of these prepared forms must be taken (compared to the amount of drugs usually taken at one time). For example, doses of dried extracts are taken in amounts of 1-2 teaspoons each time, 2 or 3 times a day, and tablets or capsules in an amount of 3-8 units each time, two or three times a day.
The material for all these preparations are herbs that are collected in nature or grown in China.
Some herbs are imported from India, the Middle East or other countries. According to experts, there are about 6,000 herbs in use. Including about 1000 of them are of animal origin and also more than 100 minerals, but they are all classified under the general heading of “herbs”. Herbs are processed in various ways, such as cleaning, soaking, cutting and drying, in accordance with the methods that have been registered, in order for the drug to be most useful. These materials are then combined into herbal compositions; the ingredients and amounts of each element depend on the nature of the condition being treated.
In special cases, a practitioner of Chinese medicine will develop a specific treatment for a given patient, which can often be modified as the treatment progresses. In normal cases, one or more formulas are already prepared for oral administration without further changes and are used as standard. The outcome of each treatment is always monitored. In the process of treatment, the need to continue using the initially selected formula, replacing it with another form, or stopping the use of the drug altogether is revealed. All this is calculated by comparing the actual and desired results, as well as the obvious or subtle effects obtained with the help of herbs.
Typically, acute illnesses (those that come on suddenly and need to be treated right away) are treated within 1-30 days. For example, an outbreak of influenza or activation of the herpes virus is caught early enough; one or two days of treatment will prevent further development of the disease. In the case of acute hepatitis or active jaundice, treatment for 15 to 30 days may be necessary.
For chronic diseases (those that have persisted for months or even years), the timing of treatment often depends on the dose used and the body’s ability to take all the necessary steps to overcome the disease (possibly changing diet, reducing stress, and prescribing exercise). When therapy is carried out using high doses, most chronic diseases can be controlled (and some even cured) after 3 months of treatment. If the daily dose is reduced (due to the inability to take higher doses), the treatment process may be extended up to 6 – 12 months.